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Mastiff

Buying a Puppy

A puppy/dog is a responsibility 365 days a year. This includes vacations, holidays, etc.

A dog is a long-term commitment (10 to 15 years on the average).

A puppy should be a permanent part of your family.

A puppy is not a toy, it is a living being. It is not something to be put in the backyard to be played with only when you feel like it.

Puppies and children are not always a good combinations. Bringing a dog into a family that has children should be done only after a lot of thought and planning. Small children should never be left unsupervised with a dog or puppy. Children are rough on animals and even the best children can be abusive by hitting the dog or teasing it. Do not buy a pet for a child until the child is old enough to understand how to care for the animal and be gentle with it. It is not fair to put an animal in a situation and then punish it for defending itself when it is being hurt.

A puppy is an expense. Like anything else, don’t buy one if you can’t afford to properly care for it (i.e. spay/neuter, vet care, quality food, training). If you do not feel you have the time for a puppy, consider adopting a rescue dog.

Do not buy a puppy for the following reasons:

You saw the puppy in a pet store and felt sorry for it.

Christmas present.

You want your child to have a dog – puppies and children are so cute together.

You saw one (on T.V., at the park, at your neighbors house) and you fell in love with it.

Someone had a litter of puppies and you just had to take one home with you.

Dog Rescue

A dedicated team interviews everyone who wants to offer a home to a dog and their unique computer matching system helps them find the perfect match.

The average stay for a dog at Battersea Dogs Home is 23 days, but some dogs end up staying a bit longer through no fault of their own. Sometimes a dog needs an extra-special home, with experience of their breed, temperament, or they may be unsuitable with children or other animals.

Whatever the reason, the dedicated staff here at the Dogs Home take care of them until the right owner comes along.